Black Winter: a Post-Apocalyptic Adventure (After the End) by Doug Troxell

Author:Doug Troxell [Troxell, Doug]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2022-11-18T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Ash and Karen met the young Keeper named Heff at the same coat store where Cortez had holed up. Heff was wearing a paper mask and rubber gloves. The racks were empty and only a few spring jackets littered the floor. The sales floor was covered in sleeping bags from Urban Outfitters. Spread out on the sleeping bags were all the infected who would not be making the trip out west.

Twelve more victims for the Raccoon Madness.

“Everyone on your list has been transferred,” Heff said to Karen, doing his best to ignore Ash lingering in the background.

Heff was one of the younger Keepers at 16. He was a member of BDE’s unit and a veteran who fought against Tranquility Hills in the battle that saw Mecca burn.

“Thanks, Heff,” Karen said. “Hey, I think I left my med kit in the back of the store. Could you check for me, pretty please?”

With Ash lingering, Heff didn’t hesitate to comply. He found the med kit in the back. When he lifted it, he was surprised by how light it was so he opened it.

It was empty.

He brought it back with him anyway but found the security gate closed. Ash and Karen were waiting for him on the other side. His heart pounded in his chest, but he did his best to mute his reaction in front of Ash.

“I found the bag, but it’s empty. Hey—what’s with the gate?”

He casually tried to lift it, but it was locked in place.

Karen cleared her throat. “Listen, Heff, you’re going to have to stay behind.”

“Stay? I can’t stay behind. Only the infected get left behind.”

“That’s why you’re staying.”

Heff struggled to understand. His blood was pumping between his ears, making it difficult to hear. He was struggling to breathe so he ripped off his mask. Karen and Ash took a step back from the gate.

“It’s probably been a while since you’ve seen yourself,” Karen said. She pulled out a compact mirror and tossed it to Heff. “Go ahead. Take a look.”

Heff looked at the stranger in the compact. His finger traced the faint black circles around his eyes. One violet vein pulsed on the left side of his forehead. His lips were chapped and crusty flecks of dead skin outlined his mouth.

“I’m just … I’m tired!” Heff protested.

He lunged forward and pounded his fist against the gate, sending metallic shockwaves shuddering up and down the metal frame.

“You’re making a mistake,” Heff said. “I feel fine.”

“You’re in the early stages, but you’ve got it,” Karen said. “You have all the symptoms. The raccoon eyes, popped blood vessels, fever, dry mouth, increased irritation. Check, check, check, check, and check.”

“That’s bullshit!” Heff screamed. Then he seemed to realize he was proving Karen’s point and composed himself. “Please. You can’t leave me here to die. Let me out and I’ll go somewhere else. I won’t follow Mecca. I’ll go out on my own.”

Karen shook her head. “You would infect someone else. We’re trying to beat this thing—for good. I know that’s not easy to hear on that side of the gate.

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